The Old Testament refers frequently to a future time when Gentiles will play a role, an important role, in fulfilling the plan of God.
“The sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord… even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer…for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him” (Isa. 56:6-8; cp. Mt. 21:13; Jn. 10:16).
“It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:2-3; cp. Mic. 4:1-2).
“It shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles” (‘\Zech. 14:16).
“For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen (Gentiles, RV), saith the Lord of hosts” (Mal. 1:11).
“The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising…the [wealth, AVm, RV] of the Gentiles shall come…The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet” (Isa. 60:3-5,14).
This is the kind of passage that a first century Jew would have cited concerning the future role of the Gentiles. He would have thought (correctly) that these scriptures referred to the Messianic Age, when Gentile nations would be the servants of the Jews in the kingdom of God. But he would have explained further (and incorrectly) that although it was clear Gentiles would be in the kingdom, they surely would not be first class citizens of the kingdom — that role was reserved for Jews, the seed of Abraham. Any other part the Gentiles might play was hidden from his eyes. In short, his Jewish pride prevented him from seeing the complete role Gentiles would have.
The inclusion of believing Gentiles as fellow-heirs of the promises was a mystery, revealed in the first century after being hidden for generations. The New Testament uses the language of eye openings to describe this newfound understanding. The uncovering of this mystery is our topic.
The Ministry of Jesus Aimed at the Jews
Jesus’ ministry was directed primarily toward the Jews. Although there were hints along the way of a further purpose with the Gentiles (see Ch. 171 of Studies in the Gospels by Bro. Harry Whittaker), the focus was squarely on the Jews. The effort to preach the gospel to the Gentiles began in earnest only after Christ had ascended into heaven.
In the last week of his ministry, Jesus said the gospel would be preached to all the world. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Mt. 24:14).
To this end, after his resurrection, Christ instructed the apostles to preach the gospel to all nations. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Mt. 28:19). “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:15-16).
And just before he ascended into heaven, he told the apostles, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Because we have read the book of Acts, we take the fulfillment of these passages for granted. But it must be emphasized that, even though Christ had repeatedly told the apostles they would preach the gospel to the Gentiles, their spiritual eyes were still not completely open to this radical idea.
The Opening of Peter’s Eyes
Peter’s heavenly vision was repeated three times, and he still wasn’t sure what it meant (Acts 10:9-17). Then Peter was told to go to Cornelius’ house and he did. At last, his eyes were opened, and he understood what the vision meant, “Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ..Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him…Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?” (Acts 10:28,34-35,47).
“The apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him…When they heard these things [i.e., Peter’s rehearsal of the Spirit-guided events], they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:1-2,18).
Slowly, ever so slowly, the first century ecclesia was beginning to see the Gentiles would have a more important role in God’s plan than they had previously assumed.
Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles
God told Ananias Paul was “a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). After receiving the Holy Spirit, Paul’s eyes were opened and he received his sight (9:18). In his defense before Agrippa, Paul recounted Christ’s words to him, “Rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:16-18; cp. Isa. 42:6-7; 49:6).
Not only were Paul’s own eyes opened, but he also had to open the eyes of the Gentiles, that they might become fellow-heirs by faith. This was a lesson Paul would never forget. It was the primary purpose of his entire ministry.
Paul’s New Policy Openly Stated
Years later, Paul made his policy clear in Antioch of Pisidia: “The next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:44-48; cp. Isa. 49:6; 42:6-7; 43:5-7; 45:22).
The Key to Paul’s Letter to the Romans
The ecclesia at Rome had both Jewish and Gentile members, and they were not getting along at all. The arrogant Jewish brethren were uncomfortable with their Gentile brethren. And the high-bred Gentile brethren thought more highly of themselves than they did of their Jewish brethren. Both sides needed strong exhortations from this unique Jewish apostle to the Gentiles.
Paul’s exhortation to the Jewish brethren
The Jews needed to be reminded the Gentiles had been justified by the same principles they had been. Justification by faith, repentance, circumcision of the heart, true children of Abraham, baptism into Christ’s death, walking in newness of life — these were all preached to the Jew first, but they were also preached to the Gentile.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).
“Who [God] will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile” (Rom. 2:6-10).
“Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith” (Rom. 3:29-30).
“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations)” (Rom. 4:16-17; Gen. 17:4-5).
Paul’s exhortation to the Gentile brethren
And the Gentiles needed to be reminded of the importance of Israel in God’s plan — after all, it was the Gentiles who had been grafted in, and they could be lopped off as easily as the unbelieving Jews had been.
“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?” (Rom. 11:11- 12 etc.).
“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name (II Sam. 22:50). And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people (Deut. 32:43). And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people (Psa. 117:1). And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust (Isa. 11:10). Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:8-13). Note that to prove the point Paul quotes from each of the major portions of the Old Testament: the Former Prophets (II Samuel), the Torah (Deuteronomy), the Writings (Psalms), and the Latter Prophets (Isaiah).
“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen” (Rom. 16:25-27).
Paul’s Lesson to the Galatians
“The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed” (Gal. 3:8). The source of this quote is a bit of a puzzle. It connects three key ideas: “in Abraham,” “all nations,” and “be blessed.” “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3) connects “in Abraham” with “be blessed” but has “all families” instead of “all nations.” “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 22:18; cp. 26:4; 28:14) connects “all nations” and “be blessed” but has “in thy seed,” which is Christ (Gal. 3:16), instead of “in Abraham.” There is no doubt these two verses are related to the quote in Galatians 3:8, however, there is a more likely source for Paul’s words. Specifically, “All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him [Abraham]” (Gen. 18:18) connects all three of the key ideas.
To the Ephesians
“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles (cp. Acts 21:28-29)…how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote…whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus though the gospel” (Eph. 3:1-6 RV).
See Colossians 1:25-28 also.
Conclusion
This article has shown not only this mystery — that faithful Gentiles and faithful Jews are fellow-heirs of the kingdom of God — was foretold in the Old Testament and by Christ at the end of his earthly ministry, but that it was understood only after God had opened the eyes of the apostles. Furthermore, God sent the apostle Paul specially to the Gentiles to open their eyes, spreading the gospel to all nations.
As a Gentile who has joined the seed of Abraham during the falling away of Israel, I am grateful to God and His Christ for the blessings they have shared with me. I long for the day when the Jews will look to Christ and become true children of their faithful father, that together we may be made perfect. Amen.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One